Fifteen players from Spain’s women’s national team have threatened to walk away from international duty unless their coach Jorge Wilda is fired, the International Federation of Spanish Football Associations (RFEF) said on Thursday.
Local media reported that the Spanish women’s national team was in chaos last month, with players on the verge of rioting if the federation did not relieve Wilda of her duties.
“The RFEF can confirm that we have received 15 emails from 15 players of the senior women’s football team today… in which they state that the current situation is ‘significantly’ affecting their emotional state and health and that ‘until it is lifted,’ they are leaving the Spanish national team,” the Spanish FA said in a statement.
“The RFEF will not allow the players to question the continuity of the national coach and his coaching staff as it is not within their remit to make such decisions.”
The association states that refusing a call-up to the national team qualifies as “a very serious violation and may result in sanctions of two to five years of disqualification.”
According to sources close to the situation, the players are unhappy with the treatment of injuries, the atmosphere in the locker room, Wilda’s team selection and his training.
The RFEF, which has not released the identities of the 15 players, said it fully supported the coach and that the players would only return to the team if they “admit their mistake and apologise”.
